Billy Magnussen on Key ‘No Time to Die’ Scenes and ‘The Many Saints of Newark’

[This interview contains spoilers for No Time to Die.]

For No Time to Die star Billy Magnussen, there’s no time just like the sizzling. In the 25th James Bond movie from Eon Productions, Magnussen performs CIA officer Logan Ash, who, on the side of his fellow CIA operative Felix Leiter (Jeffrey Wright), tries to convince a retired Bond to aid with a mission. Magnussen, who had beforehand labored with No Time to Die filmmaker Cary Fukunaga on the Netflix restricted series Maniac, if truth be told made his case for a Bond role on Maniac‘s red carpet.

“I consider after we premiered Maniac because we came upon out that day that Cary turned into as soon as going to produce the subsequent James Bond,” Magnussen tells The Hollywood Reporter. “So I went as much as him and I turned into as soon as like, ‘Hear, set me in James Bond whenever it is advisable well.’ After which a yr later, I turned into as soon as on a backpack time out in Vietnam, and I turned into as soon as standing outside this tackle. I’ve a portray of it in Sapa, Vietnam, and it mentioned 007. I believed, ‘That’s queer.’ After which I received a text from Cary Fukunaga going, ‘Dude, what are you doing subsequent summer season?’ So I texted him lawful support without hesitation and turned into as soon as like, ‘If it’s for Bond, I’m free.’”

Magnussen also appears to be like as Paulie Walnuts within the The Sopranos prequel movie, The Many Saints of Newark. To prepare for the role, he did a deep dive into The Sopranos, one thing he wasn’t in a position to produce on the time of its broadcast.

“I truly tried to to find his mannerisms and cadence down. All of these issues,” Magnussen says. “I didn’t know noteworthy about The Sopranos till I received the job because I might perchance no longer manage to pay for HBO, especially in college. So I watched the complete series, nevertheless I didn’t would favor to produce an impersonation. I factual wished to rating the essence of this man. So the major issues I locked on were the mannerisms, the actions and the put they would possibly be able to also reach from, nevertheless also how we constructed phrases, how his head thought and the put the persona turned into as soon as pushed. A ramification of that credit rating goes to David Move, so I will be capable to’t rating that.”

In a most up-to-date dialog with THR, Magnussen also displays on his downtime taking pictures No Time to Die, including a “Coloration Bustle” with Fukunaga and browsing in Jamaica with Wright. Then he appears to be like to be support at his time on the sets of The Huge Short, Bridge of Spies and The Leftovers.

[This interview contains spoilers for No Time to Die.]

So did Maniac most continuously again as your audition for No Time to Die?

I would relate so. I received Maniac, which gave me the chance to work with Cary Fukunaga. So we grew to turned into guests, and I felt we collaborated truly properly with every other. And I consider after we premiered Maniac because we came upon out that day that Cary turned into as soon as going to produce the subsequent James Bond. So I went as much as him and I turned into as soon as like, “Hear, set me in James Bond whenever it is advisable well.” After which a yr later, I turned into as soon as on a backpack time out in Vietnam, and I turned into as soon as standing outside this tackle. I’ve a portray of it in Sapa, Vietnam, and it mentioned 007. I believed, “That’s queer.” After which I received a text from Cary Fukunaga going, “Dude, what are you doing subsequent summer season?” So I texted him lawful support without hesitation and turned into as soon as like, “If it’s for Bond, I’m free.” (Laughs.) So I would relate that Maniac turned into as soon as a chunk of it.

So the first thing I spotted about Logan Ash turned into as soon as his paranoia. Somebody bumped into him on the avenue, and he at the moment checked for his pockets and such. Had been you attempting to place early that he turned into as soon as moderately fresh to this line of work and turned into as soon as alarmed about his total thought?

Yeah, it turned into as soon as concerning the juxtaposition of the characters. You have Bond, who’s soft, coy and cushty in every single place he goes, in a sense. After which I attempted to play the opposite of that: a man who is on this world nevertheless is a limited bit vanilla and hesitant. He doesn’t have his footing yet, nonetheless it also distracts from what the persona’s proper intentions are.

Used to be the smiling one other manner to describe that he’s unhappy with what he’s about to produce?

It’s extra that there’s this darkish world around him, and he’s getting his thought to work. He’s enraged. He drank Safin’s [Rami Malek] Kool-Assist, so he’s all about pushing his agenda ahead.

What areas did you wander to on this?

Jamaica and the U.Good enough.

I’m no longer attempting to to find into the weeds of Daniel’s ruin, nevertheless turned into as soon as a couple of of your stuff rescheduled for later?

No, I turned into as soon as on board for many months. I turned into as soon as there, and I turned into as soon as factual there to service the project. I own that’s what you produce as an artist or a performer. It’s no longer about you. It’s extra concerning the project that you’re inserting collectively. How can I be the piece that helps or makes it transfer as smoothly as that it is advisable well perchance perchance also factor in?

So you no longer finest fought James Bond nevertheless you truly held your have. Had been you on cloud 9 the complete time?

Yeah, when I received the chance — or turned into as soon as told that I had the chance to be in it — I turned into as soon as like, “There’s received to be a battle scene, lawful?!” And pointless to divulge, when I came upon out, I turned into as soon as factual like, “Yes!” No longer many americans to find to battle Bond. It’s wilder now than it turned into as soon as then because when I turned into as soon as doing it, you’re exhibiting as much as produce the work. You’re tranquil factual an actor in a chunk. Nonetheless taking a glimpse support at it now, you’re like, “Holy crap, dude! This chances are wonderful.” So I factual have such gratitude for all of it.

Did the choreography rating its toll on you?

No, I turned into as soon as like, “I to find to streak produce this on day by day foundation?” So attending to produce that on day by day foundation, I turned into as soon as vivid-eyed and hairy-tailed. I cherished it.

And Logan Ash most continuously killed Jeffrey Wright’s Felix Leiter, who’s no longer finest a fan-current persona nevertheless one amongst Bond’s finest guests. As an actor, you were doubtlessly elated about impacting the story to that level, nevertheless as Billy, were you a limited bit alarmed about fans giving you a onerous time on the avenue?

No, in no contrivance. (Laughs.) I admire it, man. Again, you’re a persona in a chunk, and whenever you’re doing all your piece properly, the hope is that it impacts americans and impacts americans. We’re factual telling a story and it’s all play. I admire it. Who doesn’t elevate to play Brutus in Hamlet, ?

Used to be there rather a couple of fanfare on location since Felix’s story turned into as soon as coming to an discontinue? Would possibly perchance every person sense how substantial a 2nd it might perchance be for Bond and the audience?

No, no longer truly. (Laughs.) It turned into as soon as factual one other 2nd.

Had been you on hand to undercover agent Ash’s Fluctuate Rover flip over?

Yeah, that turned into as soon as cool. That turned into as soon as truly cool. The total motorcycles and Fluctuate Rovers were flying around. I cherished exhibiting up on lately because you’re like, “How are they going to drag this off?” After which they produce it and likewise you’re like, “These guys are professionals. Right here is a couple of dope shit.” I need I turned into as soon as the use of better words than “dope shit.” (Laughs.)

Did they flip Ash’s Fluctuate Rover several times?

I produce no longer know the explain number, nonetheless it turned into as soon as undoubtedly a couple of.

And what produce you consider about taking pictures Ash’s final moments?

I turned into as soon as with Cary and Craig, and I factual tried to be as fresh as that it is advisable well perchance perchance also factor in. I attempted to be happy concerning the moments that were in entrance of me and I attempted no longer to agonize concerning the leisure else. I don’t have to anguish about what the fans are going to issue or whatever. I’m there with americans I admire and care about, and we were creating one thing that I feel is pleasing. And I received to ride it, that manner the field to me. On the 2nd, we dwell in every single place other than the sizzling 2nd, and I’m factual happy I received to take into story and be a chunk of this whole direction of.

In 50 years, have to you show your massive-grandchildren about your ride on No Time to Die, what memory will you fragment with them first?

(Laughs.) I could consider browsing with Jeffrey Wright nearly every other morning in Jamaica. Actual browsing, having a couple of rums and being like, “Wow, that is pleasing.” Jeffrey is a exact form gentleman.

What’s the story uninteresting this flee you and Cary did?

Oh, it’s called The Coloration Bustle. I own it’s a 5K flee. So we were factual in London on the time, and I turned into as soon as like, “Cary, you elevate to have to streak produce this fling?” And he turned into as soon as like, “Yeah.” Most continuously, you’ve received to step faraway from work after which reach support to it. So we factual did the fling, and they threw coloration at us. After which we received a couple of mimosas and called it a day.

So, Paulie Walnuts. How’s that for a segue?

(Laughs.)

Did you undercover agent rather a couple of tape on Tony Sirico’s Paulie?

Oh yeah! I truly tried to to find his mannerisms and cadence down. All of these issues. I didn’t know noteworthy about The Sopranos till I received the job because I might perchance no longer manage to pay for HBO, especially in college. So I watched the complete series, nevertheless I didn’t would favor to produce an impersonation. I factual wished to rating the essence of this man. So the major issues I locked on were the mannerisms, the actions and the put they would possibly be able to also reach from, nevertheless also how we constructed phrases, how his head thought and the put the persona turned into as soon as pushed. A ramification of that credit rating goes to David Move, so I will be capable to’t rating that. Nonetheless inserting breath into the lines and the persona turned into as soon as my job. So I factual soaked it in. It turned into as soon as stress-free.

Sirico’s Paulie gave a in point of fact particular ask at any time when he turned into as soon as offended, and I own you captured that properly.

(Laughs.) Thanks, man. I need he had a limited bit extra to produce, nevertheless I’m contented with what I had. So I feel truly grateful for it.

Used to be the use of a drill on somebody’s mouth the whole lot you thought it might perchance be?

(Laughs.) Oh, so stress-free! This kind of stress-free day. The person that turned into as soon as getting drilled turned into as soon as this kind of sport.

How intensive turned into as soon as the make-up direction of?

We received all of it the manner down to an hour. So it wasn’t depraved. It’s extra about sitting in all of it day. That turned into as soon as the article because you’re like, “I’ve this itch on my nostril that I’ve factual received to scratch, nevertheless I will be capable to’t to find to it.”

As the make-up and prosthetics pile up, does it turned into extra stressful to behave since your face might perchance also no longer have the same movement it in total has?

No, I own it’s simpler. You’re building the persona and likewise you’re factual sliding yourself into it. It’s the same with fabric cabinet and site produce. When these americans produce a intellectual job, you’re factual within the field. You don’t have to faux. You factual have to be the persona. So rather a couple of the credit rating goes to the prosthetic team, the make-up and hair team, because they made my job so noteworthy simpler.

Let’s return in time to your The Leftovers episode, “Visitor,” which I admire. I’m if truth be told talking to Carrie Coon again dazzling soon…

Oh, she’s noteworthy, isn’t she?

The greatest.

Train her I like her!

I completely will. So what produce you consider about your scenes with Carrie?

She turned into as soon as factual stress-free. She’s a theater-knowledgeable actress, and we had the same roughly dialogue with every other. So we knew how to discuss about it. And all the contrivance thru my profession, I’ve factual been attempting to be extra fresh and extra within the 2nd in put of dwelling of caring about the whole lot else. So I factual consider sharing a superb wanting time with her.

They made an exact doll that regarded like you, lawful? It wasn’t a bunch of digicam systems with you having fun with each and each capabilities?

Yeah, they made a whole doll. It turned into as soon as truly freaky, I’ve received to expose you. To stand over yourself lying there turned into as soon as crazy. That turned into as soon as a jarring 2nd, I produce have to relate. It’s an out-of-physique ride. (Laughs.) I didn’t have HBO on the time, so I if truth be told never saw the episode.

What did you take into story for the length of your time on The Huge Short? What’s caught with you?

The genius that is Adam McKay. That’s what I seen. To be around somebody so talented, so dazzling and so modern with cinematography and storytelling, you’re like, “I would favor to take hold of how this man gets it done.” So it turned into as soon as extra factual looking at such talented americans. Look, I will be capable to’t camouflage how many improbable opportunities I’ve had to work with a couple of of basically the most talented americans of our time. And have to you’re in these moments, I own you factual shut up and factual take into story. (Laughs.)

And what turned into as soon as your takeaway from Bridge of Spies?

The volume of joy and stress-free that Steven [Spielberg] has. He’s factual having stress-free. He’s having fun with.

Compose some sets overlook that it’s supposed to be about having fun with produce-think?

I consistently get that basically the most no longer easy projects I’ve stumble upon are when somebody makes it about ego and themselves reasonably than the project. Their precedence is rarely any longer the project first. We’re in a collaborative art produce. It’s a couple of bunch of americans coming collectively and making the greatest idea rating. And these times when it’s all a couple of person is when it goes to shit. It’s all about being birth and the willingness to play. And with Steven Spielberg, all I might perchance issue turned into as soon as that he turned into as soon as having fun with, and he turned into as soon as paying attention to americans’s tips. He turned into as soon as factual birth.

So when are you and Lil Rel Howery starting a band?

(Laughs.) We already did. We’re called The Low-Key Kings. You saw that limited post?

Yeah, I also heard your first single, “Inglewood.”

(Laughs.) Yeah, Rel is the man, dude. He’s so cool. I even have to streak to location soon, and we’re with him. We’re ending up a movie. Nonetheless I admire that man; I truly produce. I admire him, I respect him and I’m proud to name him a buddy.

What does a intellectual day at work point out to you?

It manner I turned into as soon as fresh, invested and dedicated to the day. I wasn’t attempting to be in diversified locations. Although it turned into as soon as a fight, even supposing it turned into as soon as no longer easy, even supposing it turned into as soon as improbable, it’s about being fresh. If I turned into as soon as attempting to streak away or to find away, that’s a depraved day.

Are you hooked in to the leisure that’s coming up for you?

It’s crazy. Most continuously, this profession can confuse you and produce you hunt better than leisure and be at peace within the 2nd. So I’m hooked in to this day, man, and I hope you is at risk of be, too.

No Time to Die and The Many Saints of Newark are now having fun with in theaters.